Dr. Bennettasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the worsening condition of pollution on beaches of seaside resorts, and the increasing danger to health at holiday time, if he will reconsider his previous decision and take the initiative in this matter by giving a greater degree of financial encouragement to these few coastal local authorities who submit proposals for dealing with the problem.
§ Mr. H. BrookeAs my hon. Friend knows, a recent report published by the Medical Research Council concluded that the risk to health from this source can for all practical purposes be ignored. But polluted beaches can be disgusting nevertheless, and in such cases it is important that remedies be adopted quickly. Responsibility for this rests directly with the local authorities concerned. I have no reason to think that these authorities cannot from their own resources do whatever is needed to remedy the situation. I drew the attention of local authorities round the coasts to the whole matter in Circular 66/59, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.